I met Robin just before graduating high school. He came in to my donut shop with a book who’s title escapes me. Rest assured it was something existential or philosophical; the kind of book I was unfamiliar with at that time. I was immediately intrigued. He sat there drinking coffee and reading for hours. He came back another day, and then another. Eventually we began to talk, which led to our first date, which led to marriage and a baby. We had many adventures during our time together, and he taught me so many things. He taught me that a walk wasn’t just to get from point A to point B. It could also be a meandering journey to destinations unknown. He taught me that food wasn’t just something which was required to sustain our bodies. It was also something to be savored and enjoyed. He taught me that wine wasn’t just something you buy on the cheap to get a buzz-on. It was something to roll over the tongue, understand the nuances, and sip slowly over a long conversation. He taught me that taking care of a baby wasn’t just a woman’s job. From the day Leah was born he took an active roll in her daily life; feeding her, bathing her, playing with her, and generally teaching her to be his best side kick. He taught me that standing up against bullies on behalf of the helpless is not an option. He taught me how to camp in the wilderness and how to hike with 60+ pounds on my back. He shared with me his love of reading, sci-fi movies and music. It was through him that I first came to love Neil Young, and by the time our marriage come to an end, I had read every book in his library. In short, you could say that much of who I am today is due in part to the things I learned from Robin.
The author Mitch Albom said that “The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.” I know that even though Robin is gone, his spirit lives on in our daughter, and in the love he had for his wife and children, and in all the places he frequented and dreamed of, and in our memories. I hope when he took his last voyage, his great leap in the dark, he knew he was not leaving us alone. He was leaving us in the care of one another.
Many of you asked us to let you know if there’s anything you can do. The best thing you can do aside from offering your condolences and outpouring of love, is to help Karen cover the burdensome medical expenses that three years of Robin’s cancer treatment left her with. A GoFundMe has been set up for that purpose. Any amount you might have spent on a card or flowers or food can be directed there, instead, and will be appreciated beyond measure.